Lightning strike suspected in Webster apartment fire, 15 families displaced

Fifteen families were displaced after flames tore through Pearce on the Lake in Webster, turning a weekend storm into a sudden housing crisis on 900 Henderson Avenue. No injuries were reported, but the apartment building was heavily damaged and residents were left looking for immediate help as the Red Cross, neighbors and property management stepped in.

Fire crews said the blaze started after a lightning strike, though the cause remains under review. The fire raced through the roof of the building, and residents heard the strike, saw smoke and got out almost immediately. A neighbor captured video showing flames shooting from the roof, underscoring how fast the situation escalated inside the Clear Lake-area complex.

The fire affected Building 12 and roughly 16 apartment units, Webster fire officials said. Samantha Shafer was among the residents who said the sound of lightning came first, followed quickly by smoke and fire. The speed of the evacuation helped keep the toll from turning deadly, but the loss of homes and possessions left families facing an urgent scramble for shelter and basic necessities.

The American Red Cross stepped in with financial assistance for displaced tenants, and neighbors started collecting pillows, blankets, towels, clothing, toiletries and pet food. Property management also said some residents could move into vacant units at the complex, offering at least one immediate housing option for families trying to stay close to work, school and the Webster community.

Pearce on the Lake is a waterfront apartment community with 440 units built in 1986. The property sits in Webster’s Clear Lake corridor.

Another Webster apartment fire on January 11, 2025 displaced eight families and was reported as a three-alarm fire.